IMPACT COOPERATIVES
Connecting East African heritage with Danish coffee culture to build a thriving community of coffee shops/roasteries led by women entrepreneurs.
Project Overview
The Impact Africa Coffee Project is a social initiative founded by Daniel Halalla, the creator of Impact Roasters in Copenhagen.
It aims to empower African women in Denmark through coffee, culture, and community — building sustainable opportunities for entrepreneurship, ownership, and social inclusion.
The project brings together 20 East African women from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Kenya.
Through training, mentorship, and shared business ownership, these women will establish and run coffee shops/roasteries across Copenhagen creating not only jobs but a legacy of empowerment.
The first pilot cohort will equip 20 women from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya with the tools to move from:
employment → entrepreneurship → co-ownership
Rooted in a proven real-life case: Winta’s own coffee shop/roastery success story.
“In every woman, I see a reflection of my mother.”
Daniel Halalla
Vision
To create a network of women-led coffee businesses that celebrate Africa’s coffee heritage and Denmark’s values of equality, inclusion, and community inspiring new models of cooperation and social entrepreneurship.
Mission
To empower African women in Denmark with the skills, resources, and confidence to become independent entrepreneurs — connecting cultures through the shared language of coffee.
Why Coffee?
Denmark drinks some of the most coffee in the world but almost none of it tells the story of its origin.
Coffee began in East Africa. Yet African women the very stewards of this tradition are rarely seen in coffee shop/roastery ownership.
IACP restores that connection.
Every coffee shop/roastery becomes not just a business but a cultural portal: hosting Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, storytelling, and community events that invite Danes to “drink the origin.”
Why 20 Women?
A pilot cohort of 20 ensures:
- Deep mentorship and tailored support
- Representation across three East African communities
- A proven, measurable model before scale
These first 20 will become the founding ambassadors and future mentors for the next generation.
Core Objectives
1. Empowerment through Ownership:
Create opportunities for African women to co-own and manage their own coffee shops.
2. Training & Mentorship:
Provide skills in coffee roasting, business management, customer service, and Danish integration.
3. Cultural Exchange:
Build bridges between African coffee culture and Danish community life.
4. Sustainability & Inclusion:
Encourage long-term growth through cooperative models, fair trade sourcing, and inclusive business practices.
Structure: A Hybrid Model
Impact Africa Foundation:
Focuses on training, education, integration, and community support. It will function as a non-profit platform that nurtures social and personal growth.
Impact Africa Coffee Cooperative:
A cooperative business model where women can become members and eventual coffee shop/roastery owners. It supports entrepreneurship and financial independence through shared ownership and profit distribution.
Together, these two arms connect social purpose with economic empowerment.
Cooperative Ownership Structure
- Coffee shop/roastery, owned by the women themselves.
- Each coffee shop/roastery is independently operated — but cooperatively supported
- Impact Roasters guarantees ethical sourcing & quality
- The Cooperative manages training, brand licensing & systems
The 20 Women Initiative
Step One
The pilot group includes 20 East African women from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Kenya each selected for their passion, resilience, and community engagement.
Step Two
They will receive professional training in coffee roasting, coffee shop/roastery operations, leadership, and entrepreneurship through Impact Roasters.
Step Three
The goal is that each woman will eventually run or co-own a coffee shop/roastery under the Impact Coffee brand turning dreams into businesses and challenges into opportunities.
Explore Impactful Real-World Scenarios
New pathways for African women to integrate and thrive in Danish society.
Increased representation and visibility of African entrepreneurs in Denmark.
Stronger cross-cultural understanding between Denmark and East Africa.
Promotion of ethical, traceable coffee directly linked to African farmers.
Implementation Phases
1. Foundation Setup:
Register the Foundation and Cooperative (2025).
2. Training Program:
Launch the Impact Academy for coffee and business education.
3. Flagship Coffee shop/Roastery:
Establish one main Impact Coffee location.
4. Expansion:
Open up coffee shops/roasteries owned by trained women.
5. Community Outreach:
Engage local Danish communities through cultural coffee events.
Founder’s Note
“This project is personal. I grew up in Ethiopia, and my mother raised four children alone after my father passed away when I was seven.
She never gave up. Her strength and love shaped me — and this project is my tribute to her, and to all mothers who nurture hope.”
— Daniel Halalla
Blog
This section provides an overview of the blog, showcasing a variety of articles, insights, and resources to inform and inspire readers.
-
Our Journey Begins: IMPACT COOPERATIVES
Last week in October, we held an inspiring first meeting for our newly preparing Impact…
Empowering Women as Coffee shop/roastery Owners and Cultural Ambassadors
Find contact details here to connect with our cooperative and support our mission.